Hyundai has issued a significant safety recall for its newly redesigned 2024 Santa Fe Hybrid crossover due to a critical wiring issue that could compromise the vehicle’s safety by affecting the deployment of the airbags. This problem has the potential to cause the airbags to deploy unintentionally or, more concerningly, to fail to deploy when needed to protect occupants during an accident.
The recall affects a total of 9,575 units of the Santa Fe Hybrid, as well as an additional 40,144 units of non-hybrid Santa Fe models. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from the vehicle’s main floor wiring harness, which, in the affected vehicles, may come into contact with the structure of the second-row passenger-side seat. This contact can cause damage to the wiring, which in turn could compromise the proper functioning of the airbag system.
Hyundai and the NHTSA’s analysis identified that the root cause of this problem is inconsistent wiring routing and improper securing of the wiring harness. This failure in the wiring installation is critical, as any damage to the harness could lead to an unexpected airbag deployment without a triggering event or prevent the airbags from activating during an actual accident—situations that could seriously endanger the safety of the occupants.
In affected vehicles, the presence of an issue with the airbag system will be indicated by a warning light on the dashboard. This light will alert drivers that the safety system is not functioning properly and that there is a potential for airbag deployment failure.
To date, Hyundai has reported eight incidents related to this specific problem but has informed the NHTSA that it is not aware of any accidents, fires, or injuries that have occurred as a result of this fault in the United States. Nonetheless, the company is taking preventive measures to correct the issue and prevent any potential future incidents.
To address this problem, Hyundai has instructed its dealerships to conduct a detailed inspection of the wiring harness in the affected vehicles. If any damage or installation issues are detected, the dealerships will proceed to repair or replace the wiring harness at no cost to the owners. Hyundai plans to begin sending notification letters to owners starting on September 23, 2024, informing them about the recall and the steps to take. Additionally, owners seeking more information can contact Hyundai’s customer service at 1-855-371-9460, referencing recall number 265.
The 2024 Santa Fe Hybrid, like its non-hybrid versions, has undergone a significant redesign that includes a more modern and refined exterior aesthetic. Despite these changes, the powertrain of the Santa Fe Hybrid remains essentially the same as that of the previous generation. While official EPA ratings for this new model have not yet been released, it is expected to maintain similar fuel efficiency to its predecessor, which offered approximately 34 mpg in combined city and highway driving. However, it has not yet been confirmed if the plug-in hybrid option, available in the previous generation, will return in this new model.
This recall underscores the importance of safety in vehicle design and manufacturing and demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to protecting its customers. Owners of the affected vehicles should be attentive to the notifications and take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are inspected and, if needed, repaired in a timely manner.
